Improvement in folding easels



R. WRIGHT,

Improvement in Folding-Easels.

'N0-.116,13 3, Patentedlune 20,1871.

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' 2 is an edge view of the same.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

RUFUS WRIGHT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING EASELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,133, dated J une 20, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUFUS WRIGHT, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Folding Easel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same,

reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in easels for the painters studio, and for the lecture and school-room, as well as for all the other purposes for which it may be adapted; and it consists in constructing the easel sothat it can be folded up in the manner. hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side view of the easel folded up. Fig. Fig. 3 is a front view of the easel extended as when ready for use, but partly in section. Fig.4 is a detail, showing the cam-fastening of the supportingslide.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the supporting central bar, upon which the slides work which support and hold the picture, drawing, &c. B is the lower or supporting-slide. U is the upper or holding-slide. The bar A is grooved on its sides, and is made in two pieces, hinged together, as seen at I), so as to reduce its length when folded. The upper portion doubles down onto the lower portion in folding, as seen in Fig. 2'. When in position it is held upright and supported by the hook E. F is the cam by which the lower slide B is held in any desired position on the bar A. G G are uprights, to which are pivoted the bottom pieces H H., I I are two jointbars which are pivoted to the uprights G G near their outer ends. Their extreme ends project from the uprights and enter slots J in the bottom pieces, as seen in Fig. K K are stops in the bottom pieces, against which the uprights bear when they are in position, and they are held upright by the ends of the bars I I in the slots J. L L are two more joint-bars pivoted to the upper ends of G G. Both pairs of joint-bars are pivoted to the central bar A. One bar of each pair laps onto the other bar, so that the pivot passes through both. M M are brace-hooks, which are jointed to the up rights, as seen at one end, and enter holes in the column at the other end. This holds the ease] steady and in position for use.

For folding the easel the hooks M M are released from the central bar, the joint-bars turn on their pivots and allow the uprights G Gto fold up the central bar, as seen in Fig. 1. When the joint-bars turn for foldingthe ends of the lower pair leave the slots J in the bottom pieces H H, which allow the bottom pieces to turn on their pivots to a position parallel with the uprights, as seen in the drawing;

By this mode of construction the easel is readily folded so as to occupy but little space. This renders it extremely convenient for transportation by traveling artists, as well as for the lecture and school'room, and when not required for use it is readily placed out of the way.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The central bar A, the uprights G G, the bottom pieces H H, the two pairs of joint-bars I I and L L, and bracehooks M M, arranged a substantially as and for the purposes described. 2. An easel so constructed that the uprights may fold toward the center, substantially as described.

3. In combination with an easel the cam-fastening F, substantially as shown and described. 

